Lions Gate Consulting Inc.

Projects

Lions Gate Consulting Inc. provides economics and economic development consulting services to clients across Canada. We seek to provide exceptional analytical work, clear strategic direction and strong support for improved decision-making that demanding clients will appreciate.

Economic development strategies

East Hants Economic Development Strategy. 2015. Municipality of East Hants. The project entailed three distinct phases, a data-based situational analysis, intensive consultation program involving over 250 residents, businesses, community groups and high school students, and the strategic planning process that drew together the vision and content for the the plan’s key initiatives. Major focus areas included business care, place making, employment lands, agriculture development, natural resource industries, tourism, renewable energy and ocean sciences.

Red Deer County Economic Development Strategy. 2017. Red Deer County. Lions Gate was a participant in the consulting team for this project that entailed an extensive consultation process, including key informant interviews, community visits and research sessions, five separate sessions with County staff, focus group and World Cafe sessions, business and resident surveys, and a regional roundtable planning workshop. A baseline analysis was complemented by a set of guiding principles and strategic objectives with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, partnerships, industry and commerce and location logistics. A constant perspective on rural issues and communities was adhered to. Strategic initiatives involved business development, education and training, community and regional/rural development and major special events. A suite of recommendations was provided for inter-governmental relations, performance measurement and investment attraction.

Powell River Economic Development Strategy. 2015. City of Powell River. This Strategy identified Powell River’s long term economic development pathway, in accordance with the intent and guidance of the Sustainability Charter, the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, the City Corporate Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Official Community Plan. The Strategy was prepared following a three-phase process involving research and analysis of socio-economic data, a consultation program that engaged 363 businesses, stakeholders and residents through an online survey, focus groups and interviews, and strategy formulation and development. The Strategy is framed around a long term vision statement and four strategic goals. The eight focus areas included business care, land use, infrastructure, culture/education, agriculture and aquaculture, tourism, forestry and renewable energy.

Investment attraction and place marketing strategies

Investment Attraction Indicator Database. 2016. Central Alberta Access Prosperity. The database provides a baseline and trend series for business cost, housing, taxation, industry, transportation, tourism and lifestyle, government procurement and government program datasets at the local and regional level that is used for maintaining digital dashboards, responding to investment enquiries and informing marketing and attraction programs.

Downtown Dawson City Investment Attraction Strategy. 2016. North Yukon Regional Economic Action Development Initiative. Investment attraction was prioritized for followup as part of Regional Economic Development Plan formalized between the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, Government of Canada and Government of Yukon in 2015. The strategy laid out integrated business retention, expansion and attraction programs that harmonized economic development efforts in the rural context where key supporters require a very strategic deployment of limited resources. An emphasis was placed on leveraging the existing business community, major industry, institutions and senior government to create practical and affordable attraction initiatives.

Feasibility and business planning

Feasibility Assessment of the Proposed Klondike World Heritage Site (WHS). 2013. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Government of Yukon. Investigated UNESCO WHS sites and research on impacts and benefits of designation, case studies prepared for three Canadian WHS sites, interviews conducted with key informants in the Yukon and in other jurisdictions for insights on the opportunities, and most likely outcomes of a Klondike WHS. Visitation forecasts, visitor spending, employment, income, gross domestic product (GDP) and indirect tax revenues impacts were all forecast and, given the positive feasibility outcome,D13 recommendations made for proceeding with designation. Dawson has since proceeded with assembling their application dossier.

North Thompson and Robson Valley Global Geopark Feasibility Study. 2015. This project was led by the Tourism Planning Group with support from Lions Gate Consulting. Communities and First Nations in the North Thompson region of BC investigated the feasibility of applying for global geopark status for the region, which includes Wells Gray Provincial Park and many other local areas of geological significance. The factors determining designation were clearly laid out as were the economic and socio-community impacts of moving ahead. An important aspect of the study were the issues and challenges related to inter-community cooperation and the necessity for gaining provincial agency buy-in and support. A positive feasibility outcome has since led to the establishment of a regional nomination committee, which includes the full support of local First Nations, and the preparation of an application dossier.

Updated Review of Compensation Options Harper Creek Project. 2014. Simpcw First Nation. This update to a 2011 review quantified the anticipated range of benefits from Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) options. Detailed financial terms and returns were predicted for four different royalty models, fixed annual payments, net smelter return (NSR) based on the price of copper, fixed net smelter return and an edge-of-pit fee. The potential returns of the NSR Copper model was informed by a sensitivity analysis of future expected copper prices using base case prices, historical prices and forecast prices from the World Bank. The study results supported IBA negotiations between parties.

Tourism planning

South Central Vancouver Island Destination Development Plan. 2017. Destination BC and Tourism Vancouver Island. As a designated facilitator, Lions Gate Consulting is helping to advance Destination BCs Destination Development program, in this case for south central Vancouver Island, which includes the Pacific Rim, Nanaimo, Cowichan and Gulf Islands areas. This initiative created a clear road-map for the destination, leveraged the strength of the destination as seen by the visitor, identifies opportunities and challenges, established a joint vision that will direct development activity in a range of areas, from infrastructure to visitor services and experience development. Importantly, it established priorities, aligned investments and set forth joint the basis for joint action and inter-community dialogue to grow the visitor economy.

Slave Lake Region Tourism Strategy. 2015. Town of Slave Lake, Municipality of Lesser Slave River, Sawridge First Nation. The project identified a complete baseline profile of existing and potential tourism related services and experiences, visitor markets, key stakeholders and partners, SWOT and opportunities related to First Nations history and culture. The strategy itself consisted of vision and goal components, target markets using Experience Quotient profiles from Destination Canada, amenities and infrastructure needs, land development opportunities, and clear recommendations for growth, costs and potential funding sources for implementation. The strategy has since been used to re-establish a regional Destination Management Organization (DMO) through a volunteer tourism levy fully supported by major hoteliers in the area.

Thompson Okanagan Regiona Rail Trails Tourism Strategy. 2015. This project was supported by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), Destination BC, local governments, Trails BC, the Trans Canada Trail Society and several cycling organizations. The purpose of the Strategy was to assist in creating an internationally significant, export-ready tourism product associated with the region’s rail trail network, with a focus on the Kettle Valley Railway right-of-way. Community workshops and focus groups brought together many different trail users to identify strategic priorities, which included quantifying trail use and values, identifying visitor expectations and experiences, identifying and closing products gaps, a community agreement and cooperation framework, theme development, branding and positioning, signage, packaging, funding models, visitors services and information, marketing and technology apps, and a 10-year implementation plan with a performance measurement framework. TOTA continues to implement the strategy pursue development of a world-class rail trail experience.

Resource Projects

Resource Projects Site C Clean Energy Project Socio-economic and Land Use Effects Assessment. 2011-14. BC Hydro. Liosn Gate was was responsible for several components of the socio-economic assessment developing the baseline data and undertaking the assessment. In the Economic volume the team completed assessments of labour market, local government revenue, and regional economic development. In the Social, Heritage and Health Effects volume the team was responsible for population and demographics, housing, and community infrastructure and services. The team also undertook several chapters in the land use volume including current land use, oil and gas, forestry, tourism/recreation, and minerals and aggregates. Post Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submission support included issue tracking, review and response to information requests by public agencies, First Nations and the public, preparation of evidence for panel hearings, attendance and testimony at the Joint Panel Review hearings.

Prosperity Mine Project Socio-Economic and Land Use Effects Assessment. 2006-2013. Taseko Mines. Completed socio-economic baseline and impact assessment reports for the environmental assessment process for the Prosperity Gold Copper Mine project. Discipline and technical lead for all socio-economic and land use valued components. Valued components included employment, income, government revenues, regional economic development, population, housing, transportation, community, health and education services, First Nations Cultural Heritage, land use, forestry, agriculture, fishing, hunting, public recreation, tourism, and trapping. Support also provided post submission for information requests, preparation of evidence for panel hearings, attendance and testimony at the Joint Panel Review hearings.

Quintette Mine Restart Socio-economic and Land Use Effects Assessment. 2010-2013. Teck Resources. Lions Gate prepared the socio-economic assessment used in the permitting process for the proposed Quintette mine project. The team worked on four volumes including land and resources, socio-economic, economic health, and public health. Land use covered current land status and use, recreation and tourism, forestry, oil and gas, hunting and guide outfitting, and trapping. The socio-community volume addressed employment, population, housing, transportation, and community service components of the assessment, while economic health dealt with labour market and regional economic development. In the public health volume the team prepared the baseline and assessment work for the public health services in the project area.

Balfour Ferry Terminal Relocation Project: Socio-Economic Implications. 2016. Queens Bay Residents Association and Central Kootenay Regional District. The team used a multiple accounts framework to analyse the implications of moving the Balfour Ferry terminal to Queens Bay North on Kootenay Lake. The economic impacts were assessed for ferry operations, terminal construction, visitor and terminal business activity and social implications, including effects on local population and property values. Dawson City Airport Runway Paving Business Case Evaluation. 2016.

Dawson City Chamber of Commerce. This project involved investigating if paving the Dawson City Airport runway would foster economic benefits that would support the costs of the investment. Social cost-benefit analysis and economic impact analysis were undertaken. Net benefits were project in the cost-benefit analysis, with aircraft operator cost savings, travel time savings, induced passneger traffic, and economic surplus from existing Holland America passengers exceeding capital and operating/maintenance costs of the project. The economic impacts quantified employment, income and GDP effects.

Marine Planning

Howe Sound Socio-economic Marine Baseline. 2016. David Suzuki Foundation. Population, demographic, economic, business and key sector (commercial and recreational fisheries, marine industries, marine transport, forestry, energy, utilities, aggregates) profiles of southern BC's Howe Sound was prepared in support of coordinated land and resource use planning; a GIS analysis of crown tenures and other values was undertaken to support report findings. North Pacific Coast Sub-regional Marine Plans, Socio-economic, Community, Cultural and Ecological Assessment. 2014. Marine Planning Partnership for North Pacific. Scoping was conducted to identify key issues and values, pathways, indicators, rating criteria and potential effects associated with four sub-regional marine plans (North Vancouver Island, Central Coast, North Coast, Haida Gwaii. ). Baselines, current management actions and evaluation of effects undertaken for governance, economics (i.e. key sectors), culture, community and ecology. Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) Baseline Assessment. 2011. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Social, economic and cultural profiles of 80,000 hectare North Pacific Coast marine area and adjacent coastal areas as part of an integrated management plan for one of five large ocean management areas in Canada. A jurisdictional context described the jurisdictions and management authorities of senior governments and First Nations for 11 key resource sectors, including marine transportation. Socio-economic profiles were completed for incorporated communities, 17 unincorporated communities, and 32 First Nations communities while cultural profiles referencing marine heritage, traditional knowledge, cultural diversity and traditional fisheries were prepared for First Nations communities. The marine activity profiles addressed recreational fisheries, commercial fisheries, ocean recreation, marine transportation, aquaculture, seafood processing, marine energy and mining, aquatic tenures, ocean disposal, national defence and public safety, and research, monitoring and enforcement. An evaluation of the economic impacts of marine industries and a framework for assessing marine activity interactions was also provided.

Land and Resource Use Planning

Socio-economic Assessment Sea to Sky Land and Resource Management Plan - A baseline and impacts assessment of the Government of BC's Sea to Sky Land and Resource Management Plan using a multiple accounts framework to identify implications for First Nations, communities and tenure holders (forestry, tourism and recreation, mineral and energy, and agriculture). Resource impacts were identified through a GIS analysis of proposed constraints on the land base and the knock-on effects on timber harvests, visitor activity and spending, mineral exploration and expected future development, small-scale hydro, range activity, and socio-community conditions. Social and Economic Impact Assessment: National Park/Reserve Feasibility Study South Okanagan-Lower Similkameen. 2012. Parks Canada. This assessment looked at the land use effects on forestry, mineral and mining, helicopter training, trapping, agriculture, ranching, tourism, guide outfitting that would result from the proposed establishment of a new national park in the South Okanagan-Similkameen. Economic development, population and community implications were also assessed. The park area was a proposed aggregation of provincial parks, Vaseux-Bighorn National Wildlife Area, Vaseux Lake National Bird Sanctuary, Crown land and private ranch lands representing Canada's pocket desert. BC Wildlife Harvest Allocation Policy Review, Economic and Business Impact Assessment. 2014. BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. This project looked at the economic and business impacts of the BC Wildlife Branch's decision to revise the allocation policy for resident and non-resident hunters. The data was modelled to project a hypothetical past allocation that would have occurred in the past prior to the new policy being in effect. This hypothetical allocation was then contrasted to actual allocations or harvests that occurred in the past in order to estimate impacts to guide and resident allocations or harvest opportunities. The report estimated the economic effects associated with guide outfitter revenues and expenditures and resident hunter expenditures, as well as business impacts on guide outfitters. The study was used by the Ministry of guide negotiations with stakeholders on future policy.